. >> reporter: rice was accompanied by acting cia director michael morell who helped explain the flawed talking points rice repeated in talk show appearances days after the libya attack. in a statement rice said we certainly wish we had perfect information, as is often the case, the intelligence assessment has evolved. >> she said what she believed was true and she was under no political influence from the white house. >> reporter: republicans aren't buying that. >> we are significantly troubled by many of the answers that we got and some that we didn't get. >> reporter: rice is also defending her own potential nomination as secretary of state. the white house says the focus on rice is about washington politics. >> people are more interested in talking points from a sunday show than they are about finding out what happened in benghazi. >> reporter: that attack now a front line for a political battle on capitol hill. brian mooar, nbc news, washington. >>> elsewhere, the tampa socialite caught up in the scandal involving david petraeus is going on the offensive. after two weeks of silence